TRIBAL MARKS........... A Controversial Cultural Practice around the world
INTRODUCTION
Tribal Mark,
a fading culture indeed used to be a widely practiced cultural act in the pre-colonial
era. It served as a symbol of pride and identity. Due to the expansion of
warfare, population displacement, inter-tribal marriages, and slavery, the act
of marking especially on the face became a common practice among the major and
minor tribes in Nigeria.
Traditionally, tribal marks are made by cutting or scarring the skin with sharp instruments, fire, and some rubbed with some substances. Tribal marking has been practiced by various tribes and ethnic groups across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Every tribal markings hold distinct meanings, with patterns often representing aspects such as lineage, heritage, social status, occupation, bravery, or spirituality.
HISTORY
It cannot be ascertained exactly when tribal marking started in Nigeria but according to some historians, tribal marks came into Nigeria during the colonial era. When the colonial masters were capturing people and taking them to foreign countries for slavery, people started giving their family members marks to locate them if ever they were captured and to recognize them when they were freed. These permanent marks are ways of identification passed on from family to family.
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| A woman with a tribal mark |
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIBAL MARKS
· Because these marks are created
through poor hygienic and careless procedures, numerous medical complications
could arise from these procedures.
· Among various issues surrounding
tribal marks is consent as the process is carried out during infancy and early
childhood.
· Unlike modern means of identification
like passports, ID cards, and flags, which can be concealed or forged, tribal
marks are permanently inscribed on the faces which allows people to easily
recognize enemies in times of war.
· Some people grow up to despise the
tribal marks on their faces as tribal marks don’t fit everyone and it could
make some people look ugly.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE PRACTICE TRIBAL
MARKING
· They were sometimes considered by
some people in the old days as a symbol of beauty and attractiveness.
· Inoculation and protection against
diseases especially for children who are believed to have spiritual problems.
· Tribal marks can help to create a
sense of belonging and experience among members of a tribe.
· Some served as a symbol of courage.
· They are a means of identifying one's
social status.
· It has a historical significance thus
serving as a medium for preserving cultural heritage.
